Every sitting day, time is set aside for what is known as 'Discovery of Formal Business'. This is an opportunity for business to be 'fast-tracked' - that is, moved and determined without debate.

Senate Discovery is a video series designed to 'fast-track' information about Senate business and the work of its committees.

Current episodes | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014

Senate Discovery: 17 November - 5 December 2014

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• Corporations Amendment (Streamlining of Future of Financial Advice) Regulation 2014
• Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014
• Higher Education and Research Reform Bill 2014
• Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014
• Freedom to Marry Bill 2014
• Regulator of Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2014
• Bridging our growing divide: inequality in Australia - report
• Young people in the aged care system – new inquiry
• Availability of new, innovative and specialist cancer drugs in Australia – new inquiry
• Senator Lambie’s statement
• Statements relating to Phillip Hughes
• Christmas statements – part 1; part 2

Senate Discovery: 20 October - 30 October 2014

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• Senate estimates
• Condolence speeches (part 1)
• Condolence speeches (part 2)
• Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014
• Carbon Farming Initiative Amendment Bill 2014
• Report on grandparents raising their grandchildren – tabling speeches
• Report on illegal fishing – tabling speeches
• 2014 sitting calendar

Senate Discovery: 22 September - 2 October 2014

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• Harry Evans
• Senator Wang’s first speech
• National Security Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014
• Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (2014 Budget Measures No. 1) Bill 2014
• Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (2014 Budget Measures No. 2) Bill 2014
• Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (2014 Budget Measures No. 6) Bill 2014
• Select Committee – establishment and terms of reference
• Upcoming hearings
• Senate estimates

Senate Discovery: 26 August - 4 September 2014

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• Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2014
• Participation in humanitarian aid drops in Iraq, and possible involvement in military operations: debate 1 September (morning); 1 September (afternoon)
• Defence Legislation  Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2014 - debate
• Report on speech pathology services – tabling speeches
• Report on management of the Great Barrier Reef – tabling speeches
• Senator Madigan’s statement
• First speeches
• Upcoming public hearings

Senate Discovery: 7-18 July 2014

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• Senate office holders
• Senators whose terms commenced on 1 July 2014
• Composition of the Senate
• Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014
• Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013 [No. 2]
• The disallowance process
• Corporations Amendment (Streamlining Future of Financial Advice) Regulation 2014
• Higher Education (Maximum Amounts for Other Grants) Determination 2013
• Replays of first speeches (Senate Highlights tab)
• Current inquiries
• Upcoming hearings

Senate Discovery: 16 to 26 June 2014

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• Tax Laws Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014
• Appropriation Bills
• Clean Energy Finance Corporation (Abolition) Bill 2013 [No. 2]
• Section 57 of the Constitution
• Disagreements between the Houses
• Selection of Bills Committee
• Current committee inquiries
• Report into the performance of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• Retiring senators
• Replays of valedictory speeches
• Senators whose terms commenced on 1 July

 

Senate Discovery: 13 to 15 May 2014

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• Budget papers
• Budget speech
• Appropriation Bills
• Senate estimates
• Migration Amendment Bill 2013
• Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill

 

Senate Discovery: 17-27 March 2014

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• Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013
• Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013
• Senate Brief No. 7 – Disagreement Between the Houses
• Senate estimates
• Community Affairs References Committee report
• Senator Barry O’Sullivan
• Upcoming public hearings

Senate Discovery: 3-6 March 2014

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• Senate estimates
• Climate Change Authority (Abolition) Bill 2013
• Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013
• Documents provided to former Senate committee
• Current committee inquiries

Senate Discovery: 11-13 February 2014

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• Climate Change Authority (Abolition) Bill 2013
• Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice, Chapter 1 – Casual vacancies
• Senate Brief No. 1 – Electing Australia’s Senators
• Senator Barry O’Sullivan
• Closing the Gap report – statement by Senator Scullion
• Senate estimates